China is warning the United States against fomenting disharmony in its "all-weather" relationship with Pakistan amid warnings from Washington about the political and financial perils resulting from the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) currently being built.
China State Councillor Wang Yi reprimanded the U.S., saying plots to sow discord in China's ties with Pakistan fail. He stated that any conspiracies attempting to incite disharmony or interfere in China-Pakistan relations "will not prevail."
He said China and Pakistan must continue to make "all-out" efforts to promote the CPEC, expand trade and reduce poverty to bring more benefits to the ordinary people of Pakistan.
China recently pledged $57 billion to build major highways, new railways, high capacity ports and power stations along the CPEC, which is a vital segment of President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to boost China's geopolitical influence around the world.
For his part, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi affirmed that the relationship between China and Pakistan will not change, regardless of circumstantial changes. He said CPEC is "extremely important" to Pakistan and has brought "deep impact" in jobs, development, and livelihood. Pakistan will take effective measures to ensure the security of the entire route, promised Qureshi.
Begun in 2013 by former Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, CPEC is a series of infrastructure projects currently being built throughout Pakistan. CPEC projects were worth $62 billion in 2017.
CPEC aims to rapidly modernize Pakistan's badly dilapidated infrastructure, and thereby strengthening its economy, by the construction of modern transportation networks, a large number of energy projects, and special economic zones.
CPEC became partially operational in November 2016, when Chinese cargo was transported overland to Gwadar Port in Pakistan for maritime shipment to Africa and West Asia. A vast network of highways and railways being built as part of CPEC will span the length and breadth of Pakistan.
CPEC is the foundation for President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Protecting CPEC was a major issue discussed by Xi and Pakistan Army Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa when the latter visited Beijing over a week ago.
Gen. Bajwa was the most senior Pakistani official to visit China since the new government of Prime Minister Imran Khan took office in August. Last week, Khan said Pakistan's friendship with China is a cornerstone of his foreign policy.
Khan also reiterated his government's commitment to implementing CPEC. Beijing later announced that both Pakistan and China agreed to extend CPEC towards the west of Pakistan to enable more people to benefit from it.
Gen. Bajwa said BRI with CPEC is destined to succeed despite all odds. He vowed that the Pakistan Army will ensure the security of CPEC "at all costs."
While both Pakistan and China work for peace, both need to stay strong to thwart the designs of all inimical forces challenging its resolve. Gen. Bajwa said Pakistan greatly values Chinese support in this regard.
